Spathiphyllum plant named &#39;mara&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Spathiphyllum  plant named ‘Mara’ that is characterized by upright strong leaves with undulate margins, minimal shoots and consistent flowering.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Spathiphyllum Schott.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Mara’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant botanically known as Spathiphyllum Schott. andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Mara’.

‘Mara’ is a hybrid that originated from the induced hybridization of thefemale or seed parent an unidentified Spathiphyllum Schott (notpatented) and the male or pollen parent an unidentified SpathiphyllumSchott (not patented). The cultivar ‘Mara’ was selected by the inventorin 2000 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross inMelsen-Merelbeke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction by tissue culture of the new cultivar ‘Mara’ wasfirst performed in 2001 in Melsen-Merelbeke, Belgium. Since that time,under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newSpathiphyllum cultivar ‘Mara’.

1. Spathiphyllum ‘Mara’ exhibits upright strong leaves with undulatemargins.

2. Spathiphyllum ‘Mara’ exhibits minimal shoots.

3. Spathiphyllum ‘Mara’ exhibits consistent flowering.

The closest comparison cultivar is Spathiphyllum ‘Alpha CD’. The newcultivar ‘Mara’ is distinguishable from ‘Alpha CD’ by the followingcharacteristics:

1. ‘Mara’ flowers earlier than ‘Alpha CD’.

2. ‘Mara’ has a larger over all size than ‘Alpha CD’.

3. ‘Mara’ has lighter green leaves than those of ‘Alpha CD’.

4. ‘Mara’ has a larger spathe than ‘Alpha CD’.

5. ‘Mara’ has a shorter and thicker spadix than ‘Alpha CD’.

The new cultivar ‘Mara’ is distinguishable from the unidentified maleparent Spathiphyllum in having a more spreading habit and leaves thatare less wavy. The new cultivar ‘Mara’ is distinguishable from theunidentified female parent Spathiphyllum in having a smaller size andleaves that are less wavy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofSpathiphyllum ‘Mara’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall viewof a 27 month old plant. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Spathiphyllumcultivar named ‘Mara’. Data was collected in De Kwakel, The Netherlandsfrom 27 month old greenhouse grown plants in 30 cm containers. The timeof year was Summer and the average temperature was 21 degrees Centigradeduring the day and 18 degrees Centigrade at night. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retardants were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘Mara’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance ingenotype.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. ‘Mara’.-   Use: Ornamental.-   Parentage: ‘Mara’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from the induced    hybridization of the following parent plants:    -   -   Female parent.—an unidentified Spathiphyllum Schott.        -   Male parent.—an unidentified Spathiphyllum Schott.-   Vigor: Moderate to high.-   Growth rate: Moderate to high.-   Growth habit: Freely clumping, outwardly arching, bushy and dense    foliage.-   Plant shape: Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading.-   Suitable container size: 21 cm diameter container.-   Height: Average 73 cm to top of leaf plane, 103 cm to top of    inflorescences.-   Width: Average 108 cm. in width.-   Hardiness: USDA Zone 10.-   Propagation: Tissue Culture.-   Time to initiate roots (summer and winter): Approximately 8 days to    produce roots on an initial cutting.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner (summer and winter):    Approximately 16 days.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem: No stems, Leaves grow directly from base, Average 15 clumps,    clump color 143A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly leathery.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf length.—Average 33.2 cm in length.        -   Leaf width.—14.8 cm in width.        -   Quantity of leaves per clump.—Average 10.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire, slightly wavy.        -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—Between 141A and 143A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—146A/147B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—137A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—137A.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—144A/B.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—137B.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—Average 38 cm in length excluding            geniculum, 5.5 mm in diameter below geniculum to 1 cm in            diameter above clump.        -   Petiole aspect.—Round.        -   Petiole color.—137A.        -   Geniculum dimensions.—Average 3.9 cm in length and 6 mm in            diameter.        -   Geniculum aspect.—Rounded.        -   Geniculum color.—143A.        -   Petiole sheath dimensions.—Average 22.3 cm in length and 7            mm in diameter.        -   Petiole sheath color.—143A.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held above            the foliage on erect peduncles arising from the petiole            sheath.        -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Quantity of spathes per plant.—7.        -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn to winter.        -   Time to flower or response time.—6 months.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate, sweet.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flower longevity.—Lasts approximately 3 weeks on plant.        -   Spathe aspect.—Concave, cupped.        -   Spathe dimensions.—Average 17.8 cm in length, 9.6 cm in            width and 6.8 cm in depth.        -   Spathe texture.—Glabrous, slightly leathery.        -   Spathe shape.—Broad elliptic.        -   Spathe margin.—Entire.        -   Spathe apex.—Apiculate, twisted.        -   Spathe base.—Cuneate.        -   Spathe color when opening (front side).—155C.        -   Spathe color when opening (back side).—155C.        -   Spathe color when fully opened (front side).—155C.        -   Spathe color when fully opened (back side).—155C with a vein            143A/B.        -   Spathe color fading to.—Not fading.        -   Spadix shape.—Columnar, arising from top of peduncle.        -   Spadix tip.—Obtuse.        -   Spadix base.—Obtuse.        -   Spadix dimensions.—Average 7.1 cm in length and 1.7 mm in            diameter.        -   Spadix color when opening.—158A.        -   Spadix color when fully opened.—158A.        -   Quantity of flowers per spadix.—Average 250.        -   Spadix flower arrangement.—bisexual, rounded.        -   Spadix flower dimensions.—4 mm in diameter and 3 mm in            depth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Anther color.—158D.        -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—158C/D.        -   Stigma color.—158C.        -   Ovary color.—158C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—Average 75.8 cm in length and 5.5 mm.            in diameter.        -   Peduncle angle.—10 degrees.        -   Peduncle color.—137A.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.-   Seed: Seed production has not been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have    not been observed for disease or insect resistance.

1. A new and distinct variety of Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Mara’ asdescribed and illustrated.